Barclays unveils ‘Ready to Work’ scheme

SHARE | Tuesday, 13 October 2015 | By Ontametse Sugar

Van Der Merwe

Barclays Botswana Botswana has launched a scheme for the unemployed youth or any unemployed person who will wish to polish their skills to be able to get that a job that has been advertised. The programme is not only launched in Botswana but rather in other African countries where the Barclays bank has branches. Head of Marketing at Barclays Botswana Rachel Mushaike said that the employability programme dubbed ‘Ready to Work’ is aimed at preparing and empowering young people across Africa with the training and development they need.

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“This programme will increase their chances of getting work or becoming successful entrepreneurs,” she said. According to Mushaike, it is their aim at Barclays to make sure that their communities benefit in whatever they do and that is why they have schemes like Cash Send and Motshelo, which benefit all the non-bankable individuals. She said they want to empower the young people with the education and skills they deserve. Colleagues around Barclays’ branches will assist individuals with the necessary mentorship on a volunteerism basis. It will be a free digital and face to face learning curriculum that will assist young people to develop their work and entrepreneurial skills.

Barclays Botswana CEO Reinette Van Der Merwe said the initiative will help young people transition in the critical period from education to the world of work be it a self-employed person or an entrepreneur. The curriculum has four modules including work, people, money and entrepreneurial skills. On how they will roll out the programme to Batswana Van Der Merwe said they will work with partners who will help them roll out the programme to young people across Botswana. “We are confident that Ready-to-Work will make a difference in the lives of thousands of young people who are currently struggling with securing employment or bringing their business ideas to life,” she said.

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Deputy Governor at Bank of Botswana (BoB) Oduetse Motshidisi applauded the bank for continuing to embark in initiatives that are geared towards the betterment of the communities around them. He said as per the 2009 Finscope report, the adults without bank accounts were at 31%, while same report for 2014 said that has been reduced to 24%. He said even though there is progress looking at how banks like Barclays are making sure that they include those people in their programmes, there is still more to be done. They lack behind their peers like Mauritius which stands at a good 8% while the neighbouring South Africa stands at 10%. Motshidisi said prospects to progress are good especially through the mobile technology use of money.